Method of controlling the internal environment of a data storage cartridge

a data storage and environment control technology, applied in the field of environment-controlled cartridges, can solve the problems of high tape wear and low output, high cost of procedures, and disruption of operations, and achieve the effect of controlling the humidity level inside the cartridg

Inactive Publication Date: 2003-07-01
STORAGE TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method to control the humidity levels inside a cartridge for an extended period of time by selectively exposing a charged desiccant to data storage media in response to the insertion and removal of the cartridge from a drive.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide a method to maintain an internal cartridge environment free of chemical and other pollutants.
It is still another object of the invention to provide a method to increase the lifetime of desiccant inside a variety of cartridges.

Problems solved by technology

Where the specific humidity levels are less than 0.08, high tape wear and low output is experienced.
It is not unusual for large data storage users to perform data migration and / or tape replacement every 3-5 years to insure the integrity of their data; such procedures are costly and can be disruptive to operations.
In broad terms, a very low relative humidity results in poor start-stop tribology and therefore poor reliability.
On the other hand, excessive relative humidity contributes to excessive sticking force, when the head is stationary on the disk.
Excessive sticking force results in possibly damage to head or suspension components.
In addition, the cartridge due to its design does not environmentally protect the tape when removed from the drive.

Method used

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  • Method of controlling the internal environment of a data storage cartridge
  • Method of controlling the internal environment of a data storage cartridge
  • Method of controlling the internal environment of a data storage cartridge

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a schematic top cross-section view and a side view are illustrated. The present invention controls the local environment inside a cartridge 10 by use of humidity control means and / or chemical pollutant control means such as for example charged (water content) desiccant 14 and airborne pollutant getter 20. The cartridge 10 is preferably, but not necessarily, of a standard "IBM 3480 form factor type" containing magnetic taple media 12 within a first chamber 16.

In keeping with the invention, charged desiccant 14 provides a substantially constant humidity level within a second chamber 18. Cartridge seals 17, 36 and 47 restrict the flow of air into and out of the closed cartridge 10. The seals are located at the hub opening 57, the leader block opening 67 and the upper and lower cartridge shell half seam 48 (around the outer perimeter of the cartridge). The design of such seals is well known in the art but must utilize non-contaminating ma...

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Abstract

A method to control the inside environment of a cartridge is disclosed. The method includes providing a cartridge having a first chamber for the data storage media and a second chamber for material to control contaminants inside the cartridge. A selectively openable structure permits communication of the air within the first chamber to the material in the second chamber to decontaminate the first chamber.

Description

This invention relates to a method for protecting data storage media by controlling the internal cartridge environment.1. Technical FieldThis invention relates to an environmentally controlled cartridge for protecting data storage media therein and to a method for controlling the internal cartridge environment.2. Background ArtMany organizations have long term data storage requirements. Typically, these requirements are addressed by storing important data on media such as magnetic tapes. As those skilled in the art will recognize, however, functional lifetimes of magnetic tape as well as other types of data storage media (disk, tape, optical, magnetic, etc.) are highly sensitive to environmental conditions and, in particular, humidity, airborne pollutants and particulates.The lifetime of data storage media is generally defined as the length of time it may be archived until data can no longer be read back at the originally specified performance levels. For example, properly manufactu...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Patents(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G11B33/14G11B23/04
CPCG11B23/04G11B33/1446
Inventor RAYMOND, ROBERT M.LEONHARDT, MICHAEL L.
Owner STORAGE TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
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